International Ophthalmology Volunteer Opportunity

[wei_c25]

[deleted post]

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[GuP]

I am organizing an international trip to Tamale, Ghana to work with a partner ophthalmologist there who is the only eye doctor for 2 million people in his region. The organization I am with (uniteforsight.org) has set up a number of trips like this to underserved areas and they have been very rewarding experiences for the volunteer ophthalmologists and of course the grateful communities and patients.

Volunteer ophthalmologists are asked to be available for at least 1 week and general as well as all sub-specialties are needed. Residents and fellows are also welcome. Volunteers are asked to cover their travel expenses (which is greatly appreciated). If you are able to participate for 2 weeks or more (recently shortened from 6 weeks due to a generous donation!), your airline ticket will be covered.

Trips to India and Thailand are also being organized if those are regions you have an interest in. Several of our clinics in India also provide training to young ophthalmologists in SICS and phaco.

The timing of these trips are still being developed and is fairly flexible, based on volunteer availability. These trips are a great way to help a region that is desperate for eye care and have a chance to meet and work with new colleagues.

Please PM or email me for more info: [email protected].

What about poor medical students? Is there a need for them?

 

[premeder]

lots of med students do unite for sight. ive written a lot about this on sdn and unite for sight is the greatest experience of my life. ive done two trips and next summer will be #3. highly highly recommend. you make huge difference in so many peoples lives. it's indescribeable. http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

hey wei when are you going to tamale? i know some who went this summer and spoke really highly . i met dr. wanye the tamale doc when he spoke at the unite for sight meeting in yale and he is the sweetest guy. im probably going to tamale in may-june

 

[wei_c25]

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[premeder]

hey wei

ive done one summer in ghana and the other in india. both were awesome. unite for sight, the local ophthalmologists, and the ghanaian and indian people are part of my heart and life. the experience is transforming.

when im not over there abroad in the summers i try to tell everyone i can about unite for sight and want to get more people involved with preventing blindness. there is too much to be done and not enough time. we need all the people we can get to be involved in this important mission. premeds, med students, residents, ophthalmologists, mph students and grads.

you all need to go to the unite for sight conference. its an annual spectacular event. http://uniteforsight.org/conference/2007/index.php i personally think its much better than the other public health conferences ive been to like APHA and global health council. there is a huge energy at the unite for sight conference and this is the only public health conference that invites eye care into global health and vice versa.

http://uniteforsight.org/conference/2007/index.php
http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer